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‘Twas the Dance Before Christmas…
For close to 20 years, my family’s tradition was to travel somewhere new and exciting/exotic for Christmas. For me, this traveling began with a hop over to Australia with a spectacular stop in Hawaii when I was just five years old (crikey!). Despite the fact this specific trip was taken during the waning weeks of summer, this type of traveling was the template for all future Christmas adventures. Spinning a globe and stopping it with a finger to reveal our next destination was not that far off for my parents. While the planning was a tad bit more formal than that, the spirit wasn’t. The mantra in my household regarding traveling was, “why not!?” As in, “why not take a trip around the world in a couple weeks?”
True story.
In total, I’ve been very blessed to have traveled to 39 countries, all 7 continents and at least 30 states. And one of the best memories from these trips was the freedom to act however I wanted. By this I mean to let loose and not worry about what anyone else thought. I could reinvent myself in a sublime setting with fun people and experiences all around me. When was I going to see these people again? Literally, never. From the hotel staffs to our fellow guests, they all felt and acted the same way.
It was a beautiful thing.
Speaking of getting into the spirit of the holidays, the following video clip from Adam Sandler’s movie, Blended so wonderfully portrays that amazing dynamic of traveling to far off places: happily dancing without a care in the world.
Whether it was attending an awe-inspiring church service in a European capital or relaxing on a beach in Bali, Christmas Eve has always been a time for reflection and celebration. Even though these family trips have halted (marriages and little children), the memories will endure forever. It’s really special to recall all these family trips this time of year as one collective memory reel.
In other words, one blended reminiscence of the magic of family vacations at Christmas.
Happy Labor Day!
Living in the United States comes with amazing opportunities and experiences. One of these wonderful aspects of American life is the desire to work, whether this is to provide for the individual and/or for his or her family. People in this country love to work hard and believe that working hard can lead to great things. So, on Labor Day, let’s all take a moment to take pause in our daily routines and relax for today/long weekend to catch our breath and have some fun.
This may even involve a little dancing…
Enjoy the Day Off!
Happy Throwback Thursday!
It’s Thursday. Therefore, it’s time to throw it back for some fun:
Perfect word play!
Peacefully Whisked Away
Here’s a little taste of my recent trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for the long Memorial Day weekend with some of my family:
“What kind of fruit is in the fruit cup?” my sister asked,
“Fruit” was the waitress’s response, so pithy and fast
We all got a big laugh as we came to realize in that instance,
of the unfiltered truth of the Volunteer State and its simplistic brilliance
The journey was an experience, that’s for sure,
especially traveling with two small children, with screams so pure
The imaginative street signs, the trees, the smoky mountains and the clean, crisp air,
is enough to immerse oneself into the culture and rock back and forth without a care
This includes playing miniature golf on a hillside one Saturday night,
at a place called “Hillbilly Golf,” which left us helplessly joking with smiles so bright
“Is that King Kong climbing on the side of that building over there?”
Sure it is, because why not? It’s just a little Tennessee flair
Up, down, and around we drove the mountain roads, searching for the place,
with the rooms to sleep in that had a view that would pleasantly shock any grumpy face
Overlooking at the towns below was a wondrous site,
peaking over the edge at the maximum height
The two-story cabin was beautiful, a great home base,
a perfect location to find some natural grace
The food was delicious, with breakfast setting the tone,
from the bacon to the eggs and french toast, it got us all into the Southern zone
This past weekend was an adventure, aided by a soothing breeze,
especially for those who zip-lined through and over the trees
Turning 180 degrees, the canon ball and the front flip,
were just a few of the ways to do a ‘Tennessee zip’
But for those who didn’t fly through the air with an audible swish,
they took a walk across a stunning bridge and made a special wish
Strolling through town, there were sights to remember, including the borderline eerie,
like venturing through pottery stores, goofy t-shirt warehouses and getting a picture with the cardboard gang of “The Big Bang Theory!”
And being from Ohio, there’s something all us Ohioans know,
which is whenever and wherever we hear OH-we always respond with an enthusiastic IO!
Monday was special occasion and not just for all those who protect us,
but because it was also the birthday for one of my sisters, a terrific plus!
Gifts were purchased and people relaxed in rare moments of serenity,
it was the ideal setting to rejuvenate one’s identity
Tennessee, I’d volunteer another weekend for you!
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